Programs for Students

Our core belief is that Japan plays an essential role in American life. We aim, in our Programs for Students, to reach as broad an audience as possible. Working with students throughout the New York area, we provide students with opportunities to learn about Japan in way usually not available within the standard curriculum. Programs vary widely, from one-time events in which students interact with a film director or performing artist to more sustained efforts in which students work with Education Program staff and various Japan specialists over the course of a semester. All are designed to introduce Japan in a sophisticated, age-appropriate manner to children with diverse interests and backgrounds, while emphasizing the development of cognitive or social skills. Programs include:

The School Partner Alliance

Through the School Partner Alliance, Japan Society collaborates with selected schools to help their students learn more about Japan and to provide special professional development opportunities to their school faculty. Students receive opportunities to explore the arts and culture of Japan through dance, film, theater and the visual arts. Currently, there are two participating schools: The New York City Museum School and Manhattan East School for Arts and Academics (MS 224). In addition to special programs for their students, these institutions receive curricular materials on Japan-related topics and ongoing professional development in collaboration with Japan Society.

Gallery Lessons:

Facilitated by a Museum Educator, Gallery Lessons are explorations of Japan Society's Gallery exhibitions for community groups and children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade classes. Lessons are comprised of object-centered guided discussions, which are planned in collaboration with teachers and group coordinators.

Lessons provide students with opportunities for artistic, cultural and personal discovery while supporting learning across the curriculum. Students are encouraged to observe, investigate and discuss a number of selected objects in the exhibition; non-verbal response drawing, writing and movement activities are included. For more information, call 212-715-1224.

Responding to…series

The Responding to… series pairs youth groups from two select organizations in a multi-part, intensive study of Japan Society's current Gallery exhibition. Groups are chosen on the basis of shared artistic knowledge and common interests. Through this program, students from distinctly diverse backgrounds have opportunities for dialogue, social interaction and community awareness that otherwise may not be available to them.

Responding To...activities engage multiple intelligences and different learning styles. They include Gallery lessons, lectures by scholars and practical workshops with professional artists. The program culminates with a student exhibition at Japan Society.

Summer Immersion Program

Registration now open for Japanese Cuisine 101: Washoku, an 11-day summer workshop for high school students on Japanese cuisine and culture. Priority deadline is Thursday, June 3rd.

Summer Immersion Programs are two-week, theme-based programs introducing high school students to Japanese culture through a topic drawn from history, literature, film, performing arts or contemporary Japan. The program fosters deepened interest in Japan studies and provides an opportunity to overcome stereotypes. In past summers, we offered A*NI*ME: Japanese Animation Production (view the short films created by the participants on YouTube) and Japanese Cuisine 101: Washoku. Additionally, students have completed short documentary films about Japanese expatriates living in New York, written and performed contemporary versions of classic Japanese Noh plays, researched and written a Teens Guide to Japan in New York, and created an art exhibition about Japanese pop culture.

One-Day Events

Education Programs offers a variety of one-day events for students, often in coordination with other programs at Japan Society. We create programs to help students learn more about Japan through direct interaction with visiting performers, filmmakers, and Japan experts. Recent events have included special programs with Japanese pop singers and film viewing and discussions with documentary film directors.

Upcoming Programs for Students

View upcoming Student Programs